This particular scam works by the perpetrators copying information used to provide search results for legitimate sites. The ACCC say these have included sites with information about children's Internet games, folk music or movie reviews. When Internet users search for this material and click on the address of what seems to be a legitimate site they are instead "pagejacked" on to a site offering various types of pornographic material.
Once there it is not as easy as just closing the browser window. The ACCC says the site's software disables the user's Web browser so that when they try to quit the site, more pornographic Websites are displayed in new browser windows.
The ACCC calls this "mousetrapping" and says this can occur up to 20 times before the user is able to shut down the Web browser.
The FTC has gained temporary restraining orders ordering the de-registration of the domain names involved, while the ACCC is investigating the Australian links to the scam, raiding a Queensland Internet service provider and seizing disks on Wednesday.
"The ACCC believes that the conduct breaches the Trade Practices Act 1974 as it is misleading or deceptive, it represents that the copied Websites have sponsorship, approval or affiliation that they do not have and that the disabling of users Internet browsers may amount to undue harassment or coercion in connection with the supply of goods or services to consumers," said the ACCC, in a statement.
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